Foldable footwear

ABSTRACT

A foldable shoe having a sole comprises a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-step part, a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-step, said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable from each other when the sole is in a folded condition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a relatively light weight foldable shoe which can be folded over so that the heel and toe lay adjacent each other for compact storage, for example in a beach bag, hand bag, garment pocket or the like for carrying the shoe, but which can be extended into a normal shoe or sandal shape when the footwear is worn.

British patent GB 598,513 discloses a sandal having a sole which can be folded into a comparatively small volume for packing or carrying. The sandal has an elongate sole which has a pair of hinged axes, each axis extending at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the sole, and having three sole parts corresponding to the instep, the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot. The sandal is attached to a wearer's foot by means of plurality of straps which pass through slots formed in the sole. The sole material may be either a synthetic resin plastic, wood, a plastics material, leather, rubber, a synthetic rubber composition, or a metal or alloy of metals, for example aluminum.

In German patent DE 42 44 293 there is disclosed a sandal having a foldable sole and a detachable upper, in which the sole is made of a rigid material and which has a fixed hinge at an instep portion of the sole enabling the sole to be folded over onto itself so that a heel portion of the sole lies adjacent and abuts a forward portion of the sole corresponding to the toe region and ball of the foot. A single hinge provided substantially at right angles to a main longitudinal axis of the sole is provided, with the hinge portion being provided at a portion of the sole corresponding to the forward part of the instep of the foot.

International patent application WO 2004/098335 discloses a highly flexible shoe which can be folded over so as to occupy a small storage space. The shoe sole comprises independent parts which are made from a rigid or semi rigid material. A first rigid sole portion is provided underneath the toe area and the ball of the foot, whilst a second rigid sole area is provided underneath the heel of the foot. The forward and rearward rigid sole portions are permanently positioned away from each other and are connected by a relatively more flexible connecting upper sole portion which extends from a forward tip of the shoe to the rearward extent of the shoe, and overlies both the forward/wall sole portion and the rearward heel portion. The shoe is foldable so that the sole folds over on itself with a bend occurring primarily at the instep portion, with the bend being provided by virtue of the flexibility of the flexible connecting sole portion.

The shoe can be rolled up, starting at the tip or the heel, and the tip and the heel can be folded inwards and the shoe subsequently folded at the center.

In GB 2,425,454 A there is disclosed an emergency footwear being a sandal having a flexible sole portion which can be folded over at an instep, with a tougher more durable toe and heel portion, spaced apart from each other by the instep portion. The toe portion, which also covers the ball of the foot and the heel portion are spaced apart from each other, so that the toe/ball of the sole portion and the heel portion each occupy approximately one third of the total area of the sole, with the other third of the sole comprising the instep portion which is flexible and is not covered on the underside with any more durable material. The sandal is attached to the foot by means of a toe strap which extends over the bridge of the foot immediately behind the toes, a further strap extending from under the instep, and immediately forward of the ankle, and a heel strap which fits around the heel. There is however no continuous upper portion, so that if a wearer steps in a puddle, or if it is raining, the wearer's feet will become wet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Specific embodiments according to the present invention aim to provide a temporary shoe which is easily foldable into a compact space and can therefore be carried in a ladies handbag, or a small carrying bag. The shoes can be carried for use as an alternative to uncomfortable shoes, such as high heeled shoes or dress shoes, and is therefore particularly suitable for use by ladies.

For example, for ladies having a night out in nightclubs, pubs, the theatre or at dinners or other social events, where it is normal to dress in relatively high heeled shoes having heels of 4 cm height or more, such shoes can become uncomfortable after prolonged wear and are impracticable for walking medium distances, for example a few hundred meters to a taxi rank, or for walking on rough surfaces such as cobble stones, gravel etc. The footwear is therefore likely to be particularly suitable for use as an emergency shoe, or a shoe which can be taken to parties as a backup shoe for when more formal of fashionable high heeled shoes become uncomfortable.

According to a first aspect there is provided a foldable shoe having a sole comprising:

a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-step part;

a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-step;

said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and

said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable from each other when the sole is in a folded condition.

Said forward sole portion may comprise a rearward edge positioned at said in-step part;

said rearward sole portion may have a forward edge positioned at said in-step part of said rear sole portion;

said forward edge of said rear sole portion and said rearward edge of said forward sole portion abutting each other when the shoe is in an extended position as worn on the users foot.

Preferably, said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion are connected by a flexible connecting member.

Preferably, said flexible connecting member allows the forward sole portion and the rear sole portion to separate from each other allowing the sole to adopt a folded condition. Whilst not necessarily touching each other, the forward and rear soles remain connected to each other by virtue of the their mutual connection to the connecting member.

Preferably said rear sole portion comprises a forward face positioned at a forward portion of said rear sole.

Preferably, said forward sole portion comprises a rear facing face positioned at a rearward portion of the forward sole.

Preferably said forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of the forward sole portion abut each other when the shoe is in an extended position; and

when the shoe is in a non extended, folded or partially folded condition, the forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of the forward sole portion separate from each other.

Preferably, the forward sole portion and the rear sole portion are connected by a flexible connecting member, said flexible connecting member being bonded to a position of said rearward sole portion which lies inwardly of a periphery of the rearward sole portion by a length in a range 2 to 9 mm from a forward facing edge of the rear sole portion, there being a region of said rear sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in an extended condition; and

said flexible connecting member is bonded to the forward sole portion at a position near the rear of the forward sole portion, but lying inwardly of a periphery of the forward sole by distance in the range 2 to 9 mm, there being a region of said forward sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in an extended condition.

Said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion may be connected to each other by virtue of a flexible upper, wherein said flexible upper is sufficiently flexible to allow said sole to fold over onto itself such that said forward sole portion overlies said rear sole portion and said flexible upper is sandwiched there-between; and

a connecting member extending over a forward region of the rear sole portion and over a rearward region of the forward sole portion connects said forward a rear sole portions and said flexible upper.

Said forward sole portion may be connected to said rear sole portion by a flexible connecting member which is flexible enough such that when said shoe adopts a folded over condition in which the forward sole portion overlies said rear sole portion, the sole remains in a folded condition of its own accord without the need for any restraint to prevent the sole from reverting to an extended or partially folded condition.

The sole and/or uppers of the shoe may be patterned, coloured or embossed in various attractive patterns, and the fabric or other material of the upper may be manufactured form any of the full range of known shoe materials, subject to the requirement for flexibility and non resilience for the upper material.

In some embodiments, each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with a curved face for mating with a corresponding curved face of the other one of said forward or rear sole portion.

In other embodiments each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with a sawtooth like face for mating with a corresponding sawtooth like face of the other one of said forward or rear sole portion.

In yet further embodiments each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with one or a plurality of protrusions for engaging a corresponding recess on the other one of said forward or rear sole portions, so that the sole behaves as a rigid on piece sole when in extended mode, with the forward and rear sole portions locking together, but whilst still being separable when the shoe is folded over onto itself.

In other embodiments, the edges where the front and rear soles may be adapted to engage each other so that a front portion of said rear sole engages with a rear portion of said front sole to provide a substantially rigid joint between said front and rear sole portions when the sole portions are in extended condition for wearing said shoe.

Various other aspects are as described in the claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically in view from one side a foldable shoe according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the shoe of FIG. 1 in cut away view bisected along a main longitudinal length of the shoe;

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically from underneath the foldable shoe in extended form, in which the shoe can be worn,

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the foldable shoe in partially folded form, in which a four foot portion of the shoe folds over backwardly to cover a rear, or heel portion of the shoe;

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically in view from underneath, the foldable shoe in partially folded condition;

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically the foldable shoe in fully folded over condition, as viewed from an instep of the shoe;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the foldable shoe in folded over condition, viewed from the heel and toe;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a second embodiment foldable shoe, having front and rear sole portions adapted to meet each other with a curved joint; and

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a third embodiment foldable shoe having a joint between front and rear sole portions which is of a jagged sawtooth shape, having a plurality of upright faces on each sole portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description.

In this specification the term “shoe” is used generically to include various different types of footwear including shoes, slippers, plimsoles, pumps, boots, sandals, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1 herein, there is illustrated schematically in perspective view from one side a foldable shoe according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

The foldable shoe comprises a forward sole portion 100 which lies underneath the toe area and ball of the foot of a wearer and underneath the front part of the instep of the foot; a rear sole portion 101 which lies under the heel area of the foot, and the rear part of the instep; an upper portion 102 which is bonded to the forward and rearward sole portions 100, 101 respectively; a flexible connecting sole portion connecting the front and rear sole portions; and a shoe liner which is placed inside the shoe over the forward sole portion and the rearward portion, and which is bonded to the forward and rearward sole portions and to the upper portion 102.

When the shoe is in the extended position with the sole in a substantially flat condition, the forward face of the rear sole and the rearward face of the front sole abutting each other and form a substantially continuous sole.

Referring to FIG. 2 herein, there is illustrated schematically in cut away view from one side the foldable shoe of FIG. 1, in an extended form in which the forward and rearward sole portions each lie in substantially the same plane as each other. The connecting portion 200 is bonded to a forward part of the rear sole portion 101 and to a rear part of the forward sole portion 100 and lies substantially flat when the shoe is in extended mode. The inner liner 201 lies over the forward and rearward sole portions and over edges of the upper 102 which also lie over a peripheral region of each of the rear sole portion 101 and the forward portion 100, and lies over the flexible connecting portion 200.

The flexible connecting member extends across the width of the shoe at the instep, connecting the front and rear sole portions and the upper.

The upper 102 is preferably formed from a flexible fabrics material. A wide variety of fabrics materials can be used, including soft flexible leather, cloth or flexible plastics materials.

The forward and rearward sole portions are preferably formed from a durable and relatively rigid plastics material which has sufficient rigidity and durability to protect the wearers foot from sharp undulations in the ground, e.g. stones, pebbles or the like, and to spread the pressure of such obstacles and grounded irregularities, but also flexible enough to allow for some degree of comfort in the wearer in adapting to the shape of the foot of the wearer.

In accordance with the purpose of the shoe as being a comfortable and practical low heel shoe preferably the materials of the upper are soft and comfortable to wear and yet offer some protection from rain, puddles etc. The material of the sole should be durable enough for outdoor use, and provide enough rigidity to protect the foot from uneven surfaces, but also be of light weight.

Referring to FIG. 3 herein, there is illustrated in view from underneath the foldable shoe of FIGS. 1 and 2 herein. The forward sole portion 100 abuts the rearward portion 101 at a position approximately mid way along the entire length of the sole, where the sole comprises the forward sole portion and the rearward sole portion, so that the meeting point between the forward and rearward sole lies underneath the instep of the wearers foot and away from the ball of the foot and toe area and away from the area where the users heel exerts the maximum pressure on the rear sole portion.

The sole may be provided with a molded in pattern or text on its ground facing part, which can be either molded in as part of the shape of the sole, or which can be included in a coloration of the plastics material used for manufacture of the sole.

The sole portions may also comprise a three dimensional pattern, in the example shown the forward sole portion has a peripheral channel 300 which extends immediately inside the edge of the forward portion of the sole, and at a spacing of around 3 to 5 mm from the edge of the sole. Similarly, the rearward sole portion may also be provided with a pattern and/or indent. In the example shown, an indented channel extending around the inside of the ground contacting part of the sole at a position between 2 and 5 mm from the edge of the rear sole portion is provided. In other embodiments, other sole patterns of conventional manner may be formed in the sole during the process of manufacture of the sole pieces.

Referring to FIG. 4 herein, there is illustrated in schematic view from one side the foldable shoe of FIGS. 1 to 3 in partially folded over configuration. In a folded configuration the forward part of the sole 100, which is unconnected to the rear sole portion 101, other than by the flexible connecting portion 200 and the upper portion 102, folds over moving away from the rear sole portion, the rearward edge of the forward sole portion becoming spaced apart from the forward edge of the rear sole portion. The forward part of the rear sole is not bonded to the connecting member over a length of around 2 to 9 mm from the edge of the sole, to allow the sole part to separate when the shoe is folded. Similarly, the rear part of the front sole is not bonded to the flexible connecting member over a length of around 2 to 9 mm from the front edge of the rear sole, to allow the shoe to fold over without straining the connecting member.

Referring to FIG. 5 herein, there is illustrated schematically in view from underneath, the sole of the shoe in a partially folded condition, in which the forward sole portion 100 is disconnected from the rearward sole portion 101 so that a rearward face of the front sole portion does not abut a forward face of the rear heel sole portion, and the forward and rear sole portions are connected to each other by virtue of the flexible upper 102 and the flexible connecting sole member 200 which acts as a loose hinge between the forward and rear sole portions.

Referring to FIG. 6 herein, there is illustrated schematically in view from the front of the shoe, the shoe in fully folded condition, in which the forward sole portion 100 lies substantially parallel and along side the rear sole portion 101. Shown in detail is the rear face 600 of the front sole portion, and the forward face 601 of the rear sole portion, which match each other and cut through a cross section of the sole when in extended form.

The flexible connecting sole portion 200 is bonded to the rear sole portion and the front sole portion, by means of adhesive, or being thermally set into the plastics sole material during manufacture. The flexible connecting sole portion 200 is not bonded fully to the most forward extent of the rear of the sole portion, but rather there is a gap of around 3 to 8 mm where the flexible connecting sole portion 200 remains unbonded to the forward part of the rear sole portion. Similarly, the rear most portion of the front sole, across a width of the shoe remains unbonded for a length of around 3 to 8 mm from the flexible connecting sole portion 200, so that when the shoe is in a fully folded over condition, the flexible connecting member 200 is permitted to extend over a height of the fully folded shoe, and the shoe is not strained to revert to its extended position, and can therefore be easily and compactly folded.

A shape profile of the rear most face of the front sole matches a shape profile of the forward face of the rear sole, viewed in a direction parallel to a main longitudinal axes of the sole, so that when the shoe is in the extended position, the sole appears to be a continuous sole member, except for a hairline gap where the forward face of the rear sole on the rearward face of the forward sole abut each other.

Referring to FIG. 7 herein, there is illustrated schematically in a view along a main longitudinal axes of the shoe, the shoe in fully folded over condition. Both the toe portion and the heel portion of the shoe are shown in end view, with the flexible material of the upper 102 being loosely compressed, allowing the shoe to close over into compact form, with the flexible upper being sandwiched between the heel sole portion 101 and the fore foot sole portion 100. Ideally, the flexible material of the upper 102 is soft and flexible enough to be easily compacted without resilience and without causing the shoe to spring open when in a folded over condition.

Overall, a pair of shoes as described herein should fold over and compact so as to fit within the average ladies handbag or clutch bag, so they can be unobtrusively carried on a night out, and should be light weight enough so as to be carried within a clutch bag.

Referring to FIG. 8 herein, in a second embodiment shoe, shown I here in view from the front in folded condition, the features are the same as for other embodiments described herein, but with the exception that the interface between the forward and rear sole portions 800, 801 respectively need not be a straight line or edge. In another embodiment, the interface between the rear portion of the forward sole portion and the forward portion of the rear sole portion may be a curved line, with a matching pair of wavy or curved contoured faces 802, 803 on the front and rear sole portions which abut or meet each other. The curved surfaces may be configured to interlock with each other in an extended condition, so as to provide an interlocking of the front and rear sole portions in use due to the shaping of the surfaces, whilst at the same time allowing easy folding of the shoe.

Referring to FIG. 9 herein, in a third embodiment, the forward and rear sole portions may be adapted to engage each other so that a front portion of said rear sole engages with a rear portion of said front sole to provide a substantially rigid joint between said front and rear sole portions when the sole portions are in extended condition for wearing said shoe. A jagged diamond shaped edge may be provided to each of the front and rear soles, so as to interlock at the meeting between the rear edge of the front sole and the front edge of the rear sole. The periphery at the front of the rear sole may comprise a plurality of faces in an upright direction as viewed when the shoe is in normal extended mode as worn by a user, the faces being angled towards each other. Similarly the periphery at the rear of the forward sole may comprise a corresponding set of interlocking faces which meet up with those of the front sole when the front and rear soles meet in the extended normal shoe use mode. The front of the rear sole may resemble a sawtooth arrangement and similarly, the rear of the front sole portion may comprise a matching sawtooth which interlocks with the sawtooth on the rear sole. The interlocking of the two sole halves may add rigidity to the sole and in extended mode provide a two part sole which, whilst being separable in folded mode behaves like a one piece moulded sole in an extended interlocked mode.

In other embodiments, the faces at the rear of the front sole and the front of the rear sole may be made in a variety of interlocking or matching shapes, including sinusoidal undulating faces, channeled surfaces in a direction across the width of the shoe, or a combination of protrusions and recesses with protrusions on one face of the front or rear sole interlocking with corresponding recesses on the other one of the front or rear soles. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A foldable footwear shoe having a sole comprising: a forward sole portion extending from a front toe part of the shoe to an in-step part; a rear sole portion extending from a rear most part of the shoe to said in-step; said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion co-operating to form a substantially continuous sole when the shoe is worn by a user; and said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion being separable from each other when the sole is in a folded condition; wherein a front end of said rear sole portion and a rear end of said front sole portion remain unbonded to said flexible connecting member to allow a folding and a compression of said foldable footwear; said sole remains in a folded condition of its own accord without the need for any restraint to prevent the sole from reverting to an extended or partially folded condition.
 17. The shoe as claimed in claim 16, wherein said forward sole portion comprises a rearward edge positioned at said in-step part; said rearward sole portion having a forward edge positioned at said in-step part of said rear sole portion; said forward edge of said rear sole portion and said rearward edge of said forward sole portion abutting each other when the shoe is in an extended position as worn on the users foot.
 18. The shoe as claimed in claim 16, wherein the forward sole portion comprises a rear facing face positioned at a rearward portion of the forward sole.
 19. The shoe as claimed in claim 16, wherein the forward sole portion comprises a rearward facing face; and the rear sole portion comprises a forward facing face, wherein the forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of the forward sole portion abut each other when the shoe is in an extended position; and when the shoe is in a non extended, folded or partially folded condition, the forward facing face of the rear sole portion and the rearward facing face of the forward sole portion separate from each other.
 20. The shoe as claimed in claim 16, wherein the forward sole portion and the rear sole portion are connected by a flexible connecting member, said flexible connecting member being bonded to a position of said rearward sole portion which lies inwardly of a periphery of the rearward sole portion by a length in a range 2 to 9 mm from a forward facing edge of the rear sole portion, there being a region of said rear sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in an extended condition; and said flexible connecting member is bonded to the forward sole portion at a position near the rear of the forward sole portion, but lying inwardly of a periphery of the forward sole by distance in the range 2 to 9 mm, there being a region of said forward sole portion which is overlaid by but not bonded to said connecting member when said sole is in an extended condition.
 21. The shoe as claimed in claim 16, wherein said forward sole portion and said rearward sole portion are connected to each other by virtue of a flexible upper and a flexible connecting sole member; said flexible upper is sufficiently flexible to allow said sole to fold over onto itself such that said forward sole portion overlies said rearward sole portion and said flexible upper is sandwiched there between; said flexible connecting sole member extends over a forward region of the rear sole portion and over a rearward region of the forward sole portion and connects said forward sole portion, said rearward sole portion and said flexible upper.
 22. The shoe as claimed in claim 16, wherein said forward sole portion is connected to said rear sole portion by a flexible connecting member which is flexible enough such that when said shoe adopts a folded over condition in which the forward sole portion overlies said rear sole portion, the sole remains in a folded condition of its own accord without the need for any restraint to prevent the sole from reverting to an extended or partially folded condition.
 23. The shoe as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with a curved face for mating with a corresponding curved face of the other one of said forward or rear sole portion.
 24. The shoe as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with a sawtooth like face for mating with a corresponding sawtooth like face of the other one of said forward or rear sole portion.
 25. The shoe as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said forward or rear sole portion is provided with one or a plurality of protrusions for engaging a corresponding recess on the other one of said forward or rear sole portions.
 26. The shoe as claimed in claim 16 wherein said forward and rear sole portions are adapted to engage each other so that a front portion of said rear sole engages with a rear portion of said front sole to provide a substantially rigid joint between said front and rear sole portions when the sole portions are in extended condition for wearing said shoe. 